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Duart Castle is 3 miles south of the Village
of Craignure on the Isle of
Mull, where the main Ferries from Oban dock, with the
ferries giving good views of the Castle as they
arrive and depart from the Island, built from
the 1200s for Clan MacDougall, extended later
by Clan Maclean.
The Castle is open to visitors 11.00am to
4.00pm, 1st May to mid October with an entrance
fee.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click on Map for Area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The images top right are from the Car Park
and of the Main Entrance to Duart Castle.
You can explore most of the rooms in the
Castle and walk around the Main Tower for great
views of the area and across to mainland
Scotland.
Duart Castle History
1200s - the earliest parts of Duart Castle
are said to have been built by Clan
MacDougall.
1350? - Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, 5th Clan
Chief, married Mary MacDonald, daughter of John
MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the Isles. The
father of Mary granted them Duart Castle and
Lands.
1511 - Hector Odhar, 9th Chief of Clan
Maclean, died at the Battle of
Flodden alongside King James IV of Scotland
as they fought the English.
1520? - Lachlan Cattanach, 11th Chief of
Clan Maclean, was accused of trying to murder
his wife Cathrine Campbell as she was unable to
have children. Lachlan was murdered the
following year, said to be by Cathrine's
brother, Sir John Campbell of Cawdor.
1647 - during the English Civil War (1642 -
1651) Duart Castle was attacked by Government
troops of Clan Campbell. Clan MacLean,
supporting the Royals, held out at Duart Castle
for some time, then pushed the Campbell's back
off the Island.
1653 - after Oliver Cromwell had taken
control of the British Government, his forces
were attacking the last remaining Clans loyal
to the King. Cromwell had ships sent to attack
Duart Castle, but the Maclean's had fled by the
time they arrived.
1691 - after Sir John Maclean of Duart had
fought with the Jacobite's in the First
Rebellion, Archibald Campbell led the
Government forces that took control of Duart
lands and demolished the Castle.
1858 - Torosay Castle
was built about two miles north of Duart Castle
for a John Campbell.
1865 - Torosay Castle and Estate, including
Duart Castle, were sold to Arburthnot Charles
Guthrie, a wealthy London businessman.
1911 - Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean, 26th
Chief of the Clan MacLean, bought Duart Castle
so he could have it restored.
Sir Fitzroy
served in Crimea at the time of the Charge of the Light
Brigade in 1855. After one of the surviving
horses from that charge had been returned to
England and allowed to die of old age, its
hooves were used to make a Candelabra that can
be seen on the table in the Banqueting Hall of
Duart Castle.
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